Julie Owens (Parramatta, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to congratulate a wonderful school in my electorate, Our Lady of Lebanon College, which celebrated its 40th anniversary last week. I had the pleasure of joining them for a mass and then morning tea in the new primary school hall, which was funded under the Building the Education Revolution. The school was founded by Sister Juliette Ghorayeb and Sister Constance Bacha of the Maronite Sisters of the Holy Family in January 1973. They opened their doors for the first time with just 115 students. They now have over 1,200 students and six building blocks surrounding the initial site, which started just 40 years ago. The motto of the college—'To know, love and serve'—is mirrored in the outstanding services delivered in supporting and nurturing its students. They are well and truly a feature of the Harris Park community, very strong as a centre of faith and learning. Many of the college's past students are now local community business leaders, and I have no doubt that the college, under the guidance of the sisters, will continue to provide this calibre of service far into the future. I once again congratulate them on their 40th anniversary and wish them and the sisters—Sister Constance, Sister Margaret, Sister Marlene and Sister Madeleine—success into the future. I thank them for their work.